Probiotic mitigates gut hypoperfusion-associated acute gastrointestinal injury in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary

Xiaofang Yang1,2, Ruisheng Liu1,2, Zhijing An2

  • 1The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730030, Gansu, China.

BMC Medicine
|April 23, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Preoperative probiotic supplementation significantly reduced acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). This intervention also lowered ICU stay and nosocomial infections, suggesting a protective role for probiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Cardiology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is linked to poor patient outcomes.
  • Evaluating preoperative probiotic supplementation's impact on AGI incidence in CPB patients is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the efficacy of preoperative probiotic supplementation in preventing AGI in patients undergoing CPB.
  • To identify risk factors for AGI and the protective role of probiotics.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 52 patients undergoing CPB.
  • Patients received daily probiotics or placebo for seven days pre-surgery.
  • AGI incidence, ICU stay, nosocomial infections, and gut microbiota were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • AGI incidence was significantly lower in the probiotic group (15.38%) versus placebo (42.31%), P=0.032.
  • The probiotic group experienced shorter ICU stays (P=0.041) and fewer nosocomial infections (P=0.048).
  • Probiotic supplementation was identified as the sole protective factor against AGI in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions:

  • Preoperative probiotic supplementation is a potential strategy to decrease AGI and related complications in CPB patients.
  • Probiotics may serve as a preventive intervention for AGI in this vulnerable population.
  • Significant alterations in gut microbiota composition were observed with probiotic use.
Abstract